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Greenland ice sheet may disappear with 1.6°C temperature increase

The Greenland ice sheet may disappear permanently at a much lower global temperature increase than previously thought, according to research recently published in Nature and Climate Change. Researchers have modelled how the ice melts during a longer period of warming and found that the threshold for an ice-free Greenland is in the range of 0.8 to 3.2°C with 1.6°C as the most likely figure, which is 1.5°C less than previous estimates.

“The more we exceed the threshold, the faster it melts,” says Alexander Robinson, lead author of the study.

The research also shows that the melting under certain conditions is irreversible and a so-called tipping point in the Earth system.

Andrey Ganopolski, team leader for the research group, commented: “If the global temperature significantly overshoots the threshold for a long time, the ice will continue melting and not regrow – even if the climate would, after many thousand years, return to its preindustrial state.”

“This lifeline should be kept until the EU is
sure that the US is really willing to join a
legally binding global agreement”

The cost of damage caused by pollutant emissions into the air from the largest 10,000 industrial facilities in 2009 has been estimated as at least €102-169 billion, and half of the total damage cost was caused by just 191 facilities.

Only three months to go before the directive that could mean thousands of green jobs is to be finalised, but the Council is instead heading in a direction that could even water down existing legislation.